Nikias (charioteer)

Nikias (70 BC-) was a 1st century BC Egyptian chariot racer from Kanopos who competed as a member of the Prasina Green team. He was a member of an influential racing family, the son of Prasina Green patron Philocrates and the brother of the famed charioteer Icarus.

Biography
Nikias was born in Kanopos, Ptolemaic Egypt in 70 BC, the second son of Philocrates and the younger brother of Icarus. His father served as patron of the Prasina Green team and was the owner of the Zephyros Stables, where he trained horses for the team; Nikias believed that his father loved his brother and his horse Saganaki more than he loved him. Nikias followed in his older brother's footsteps in becoming a competetive chariot racer at the Lageion hippodrome, and, in 48 BC, he took part in a commemorative event after his brother died in an accident. Two members of the rival Veneta Blues team, Archippos and Maleos, assaulted him until their teammate Claridas told them to stop, although he discouraged his friend Bayek from associating with Nikias, as he said that he was not a real man. Nikias later invited Bayek to join the Prasina Greens, as he had overheard that Bayek had raced against Claridas when they both used to live in Siwa. Bayek surprised Nikias by showing up at the stables, and Bayek was introduced to Philocrates. Philocrates later had Nikias and Bayek recover the horse Saganaki from the bandits at the Als Hideout, and Bayek eliminated the bandits before recovering the horse.